The preterite of aplicar is used to express when you applied something at a specific moment in the past. For example, “I applied for the job last week” – “Apliqué para el trabajo la semana pasada.”
This verb follows the -car spelling-changing pattern in the preterite. The ‘c’ changes to ‘qu’ before ‘e’ to maintain the same sound, which happens in the yo form (apliqué).
Conjugations
Conjugations of Aplicar (to apply) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):
Pronoun | Conjugation |
---|---|
Yo | apliqué |
Tú | aplicaste |
Él / Ella / Usted | aplicó |
Nosotros / Nosotras | aplicamos |
Vosotros / Vosotras | aplicasteis |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | aplicaron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Aplicar (to apply) in the Preterite (Past) Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Aplicar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The Preterite of aplicar indicates specific instances of applying or implementing something.
To apply (concrete action): Used for specific instances of application, for example Apliqué la pomada en la herida (I applied the ointment to the wound), or Aplicaron las nuevas reglas (They implemented the new rules).
To submit an application: Used for job or formal applications, for example Apliqué para el trabajo (I applied for the job).
Examples
Examples of Aplicar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Apliqué la crema solar antes de salir. (I applied sunscreen before going out.)
El doctor aplicó el vendaje con cuidado. (The doctor applied the bandage carefully.)
Aplicaste demasiada presión. (You applied too much pressure.)
Aplicamos nuevas técnicas de estudio. (We applied new study techniques.)
La empresa aplicó cambios significativos. (The company applied significant changes.)
Aplicaron la pintura en capas finas. (They applied the paint in thin layers.)
Apliqué para el trabajo ayer. (I applied for the job yesterday.)
El profesor aplicó reglas más estrictas. (The teacher applied stricter rules.)
Aplicaste los conceptos correctamente. (You applied the concepts correctly.)
Aplicamos el descuento a todos los productos. (We applied the discount to all products.)
Se aplicó la ley con rigor. (The law was applied rigorously.)
Aplicaron sus conocimientos en la práctica. (They applied their knowledge in practice.)
Apliqué los consejos que me diste. (I applied the advice you gave me.)
El artista aplicó los colores con precisión. (The artist applied the colors with precision.)
Aplicaron una nueva capa de barniz. (They applied a new coat of varnish.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Aplicar (to apply) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
Yo apliqué | I applied |
Tú aplicaste | You applied |
Él / Ella / Usted aplicó | He / She / You (formal) applied |
Nosotros / Nosotras aplicamos | We applied |
Vosotros / Vosotras aplicasteis | You all applied |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes aplicaron | They / You all (formal) applied |
This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.